Check off another Chekov at Harbor Stage

Friday

Jun 27, 2014 at 2:00 AM

It appears the Harbor Stage Company in Wellfleet has a penchant for sophisticated 19th century Russian theater as they open their summer season for the second year in a row with a work of Anton Chekov.

John Watters

JOE KENAHAN PHOTO

LET’S BLOW THIS BURG – Yelena (Stacy Fischer) and Serebryakov (Jeff Zinn) find no pleasure in country living in Harbor Stage’s Uncle Vanya.

Fine performances breathe new life into Uncle Vanya

It appears the Harbor Stage Company in Wellfleet has a penchant for sophisticated 19th century Russian theater as they open their summer season for the second year in a row with a work of Anton Chekov.

Last year it was The Seagull that drew critical acclaim not only at their seaside venue, but later in a reprise production last fall at The Modern Theater at Suffolk University in Boston. Opening this, the company’s third season, is a fresh adaptation of Uncle Vanya by Harbor Stage founding member and artistic director Robert Kropf.

Chekov’s writing draws upon the hardship, struggles and dreariness of social classes in everyday Russian life. His characters often exude dark moods and feelings that in an instant can go from mundane conversation to launching into seemingly never-ending stream-of-consciousness speeches espousing rants about societal and environmental issues. His work can be difficult for both actors and audience if it’s not rendered accessible to today’s sound bite-driven ears.

The story of Uncle Vanya takes place at the country estate of the deceased first wife of an aging eccentric professor, Serebryakov. Returning from the city where his lifestyle is supported by the revenues of the estate, he drops the bombshell that he is planning to sell his holdings so that he and his young second wife, Yelena, will not have any future financial woes. This of course brings bitterness from Vanya, the first wife’s brother and Sonya, his daughter from the first marriage, who have acted as caretakers managing the vast estate, and have no other place to go and know no other lifestyle. Add a visiting doctor, Astrov, whose presence stirs emotions within the interpersonal relationships and you’ve got a Russian classic that rivals today’s soap operas.

Kropf’s rework of Uncle Vanya, in which he does everything including write, direct, design, and even act, produces a credible evening of theater, especially with the aid of his talented cast mates. Although the play slogs at times in the 2-1/2 hour performance, for the most part Kropf’s adaptation has made the onerous 115-year-old script riveting.

In the title role Justin Campbell breathes life into Uncle Vanya. It appears his character could explode in violence at any moment, but the dangerousness turns to desperation and naiveté as he begs for the attention and affection of Yelena and is constantly thwarted by her cold responses.

Stacy Fischer plays Yelena, who despises the boredom of living in the country. She finds herself lolling around the house, making her an easy object for Vanya’s unfounded flirtations. Fischer is mesmerizing in her portrayal.

As Sonya, Amie Lytle is perfect as the estate-locked daughter desperate herself to find a relationship, something she feels is difficult because of her plainness. Lytle’s acting is superb, embodying Chekov’s thread of unrequited love woven throughout the play as she constantly tries to catch the eye and attention of Dr. Astrov.

Kropf is extremely elusive as Dr. Astrov. He comes across callous, and it appears he has no real feelings for the family who owns the estate. His ideological response environmental issues seems to come out of nowhere, eerily on point today even though his thoughts were penned over a century ago.

Finally we come to Professor Serebryakov, played magnificently by Jeff Zinn. The actor’s embodiment of the eccentric gentleman who despises the countryside as much as he despises those who live there takes a mercurial turn when it is found out the only reason for this return to his late wife’s property is to sell it.

Although this Harbor Stage presentation of Chekov might not be as razor sharp as The Seagull, by no means take that as a reason to not go see the company’s current labor of love in honor of the Russian playwright’s masterpiece. It’s thought-provoking and exquisitely put together, and deserves to be revered.

Uncle Vanya is at the Harbor Stage Company, 15 Kendrick Ave in Wellfleet, Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. No show Friday, July 4; added show Tuesday, July 1s, at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call the box office at 508-349-6800 or email info@harborstage.org